Contest: PSP Redesign

by Ed Stasick { Feb 5th 2006 at 2:47PM }

With everyone having so much fun redesigning the PS3 controller and redesigining the Nintendo DS, we couldn't resist the urge to have some redesign fun ourselves.

So, the mission is simple: redesign the PSP to improve upon its industrial design, its usability or its functionality (or all of the above). The ground-rules are few and far between, but stick to these basics:

The screen must remain 16x9 (but we didn't say anything about what size it has to be)
All of the current buttons and control mechanics must carry over into the new design (you can't remove the analog stick, but we didn't say you couldn't add another one for a total of two)

An all-star panel of celebrity judges will pick a winner based on a combination of aesthetics and originality.

The prize for expending your precious brain-power? Your very own copy of Archer MacLean's Mercury, and, of course, immortal fame. Next week, we'll announce the winner along with our favorite runner-ups. Your redesigns are due by midnight, Sunday, February 12.

So, get crackin' and send those redesigns to: pspredesign@yahoo.com

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Scott Marnik @ Feb 7th 2006 9:39AM

I should make one that looks like a portable DVD player with PS2 buttons...how everyone thought it ws going to look before it was released.

SuicideNinja @ Feb 7th 2006 2:33PM

I don't care what anyone says, but the first redesign should make the PSP smaller (including the screen..maybe .5"). The thing is way too big for a portable in the first place. Maybe a "slim PSP" someday?

As far as looks go, it seems to be fine, other than maybe a built in screen cover. A faster UMD drive and a better quality LCD screen would be nice, but may come at the expense of battery life.

Don't worry, Sony isn't likely to add a second analog in this generation. The PSP2 may see such a feature though.

M.. Dizzle @ Feb 7th 2006 7:41PM

I would buy a PSP the second it comes out with the 2nd analog stick, FPS' suck without it, even the DS has a control scheme that works without too much trouble, also a regular MGS would be possible with 2 analog sticks

A. G. @ Feb 7th 2006 11:53PM

I can't really see how the PSP's design can be improved in terms of visual flair. After all, this thing's main selling point is how beautiful the screen is as well as the design. The only thing Sony really could do, is make it a bit smaller and thinner, but that would probably mean the screen would have to be shrunk a little bit. Let us not forget that the technology inside the PSP is already expensive enough...imagine if the PSP was a bit smaller and slimmer...Sony would lose more money.

Anyway, I'm fine with my PSP and DS. Although, I would love to have a White PSP and White DS Lite.

James Snook @ Feb 5th 2006 4:10PM

Allowing the addition of a second analogue nub is a very poor idea, ok so the concept is not going to become reality but the idea of a console having it's base functionality change to include game effecting changes scares me to death (as a PSP owner) - imagine it did happen, imagine some games only worked on the 2 nub PSP! That would be bad all round.

Ranma13 @ Feb 5th 2006 7:05PM

A redesign is just that, meaning it's a different design of the same device. Adding buttons/controls/analog sticks or any other device that changes the way you play games is NOT a redesign. But something such as adding a backlight or changing the position of the buttons or even changing it to a clamshell design is a redesign because it doesn't change the way you interact with a game, merely how you view it.

Gonzo @ Feb 6th 2006 12:50AM

I can't wait to see what they do.
I think the two biggest improvements that they could make to it is to have it just small enough that it can comfortably fit in your pocket and to make it as tough as a gameboy (whatever version).

Better power management wouldn't be a bad idea either.

I know it's sony so that last improvemnt probably wont happen (they like to have their portables break just after the warranty goes) but you can drop a gameboy on concrete repetedly and it'll still work. At the nintendo store they even have one of the original gameboys on display (still working) that got half melted in a blast in the 90s persian gulf war.

Most of all they need to start coming out with more games as good as Burnout Legends.
Gonzo

James Snook @ Feb 6th 2006 1:28AM

Ranma13 - that is what I was saying, not that a new shape and so on was the problem but saying a second stick is ok, this creates a replacement for the PSP not just a redesign. But I realise I am being silly because it is just a fun image contest, I fear the day Sony decide a second stick is a good idea mind you. Sony have a lot of bad ideas.